Fire causes NZ power price spike

• 14 years ago (2010-02-18)
• David Flin

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Electricity prices in , soared after national grid operator Transpower temporarily shut down the power link while firefighters tackled a blaze in a pine plantation under transmission lines in the Marlborough Sounds. Transpower said in a statement that the line was shut off about 11.30am as a precaution and no supply issues were anticipated.

The high voltage link carries relatively cheap power from the South Island hydropower plants, though when water levels in the dam are low, North Island electricity from thermal generation plants and some hydropower plants is sent south under Cook Strait.

But Transpower also started its costly Whirinaki gas turbine plant, and power prices in Auckland – which has historical and continuing concerns over security of supply – jumped to $48,189 per MWh. An NZX spokesman said that this startling price was caused by a “data overload” and should not be seen as a forecast of actual prices. At the same time yesterday, the price was $292/MWh, according to the website of Marketplace Co, and an hour later, the price was $168/MWh.

A spokeswoman for Transpower said that transmission was resumed on the cable, before the day’s electricity consumption began peaking around 5pm .